These Summer Storms

These Summer StormsTitle: These Summer Storms
Author: Sarah MacLean
Genre: Romance
Format: Audio
Pages: 384
Length: 13h 17m
Narrator: Julia Whelan
Source: Owned
Reason: Book of the Month
Rating:
Spice: 2.5 Flames

My Thoughts

I really enjoyed reading THESE SUMMER STORMS. So much family drama and I loved it! I really loved Alice. I felt so much sadness and anger on her behalf because of how her family treated her. I’m glad she and her siblings made up as much as they could and learned to step outside of their parents’ shadows. I also really loved Jack. I loved the sexual tension between him and Alice. I’m glad that he could give her what she needed in a partner and chose her over the money.

The Haunting of Paynes Hollow

The Haunting of Paynes HollowTitle: The Haunting of Paynes Hollow
Author: Kelley Armstrong
Genre: Horror
Format: Audio
Pages: 320
Length: 9h 24m
Narrator: E.J. Lavery
Source: Owned
Reason: Book of the Month
Rating:
Spice: 0 Flames

My Thoughts

Wow! I’m so glad I chose THE HAUNTING OF PAYNES HOLLOW as my October Book of the Month pick. It was so much fun! I loved the callback to Sleepy Hollow and the Headless Horseman. I loved the setting, the supernatural legends, the characters, and the big reveal at the end! When I wasn’t reading, I couldn’t wait to get back to the story. I’ll definitely be looking up more books by Kelley Armstrong.

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Play Nice

Play NiceTitle: Play Nice
Author: Rachel Harrison
Genre: Horror
Format: Audio
Pages: 336
Length: 10h 18m
Narrator: Alex Finke, Natasha Soudek
Source: Owned
Reason: None
Rating:
Spice: 2.5 Flames

My Thoughts

I’m so glad I decided to read PLAY NICE during the “spookiest” month of the year. It was a such a fun take on the haunted house trope. I loved the depth to the story, facing and conquering metaphorical and real demons. Even though Clio seems really selfish and a little bit narcissistic at the beginning, I loved her character arc. I also loved her tenacity and drive to find the truth. I also loved the little bit of romance between her a certain handsome neighbor. I’d give this 5 stars but I wanted a less vague ending in regards to Clio and her relationships.

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The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy

The Undertaking of Hart and MercyTitle: The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy
Author: Megan Bannen
Series: Hart & Mercy #1
Genre: Romantasy
Format: Audio
Pages: 439
Length: 12h 15m
Narrator: Rachanee Lumayno, Michael Gallagher
Source: Owned
Reason: None
Rating:
Spice: 3 Flames

My Thoughts

I absolutely loved reading THE UNDERTAKING OF HART AND MERCY. I thought it was a fun Halloween-y “You’ve Got Mail” romantasy. I loved the world building and all the fantastical elements. I also loved that the story was told in the POV’s of both Hart and Mercy. Their chemistry, sexual tension, and banter kept me reading. I’m excited to see what happens in the next book. I also loved the audio. The narrators were perfect as Hart and Mercy.

Tress of the Emerald Sea

Tress of the Emerald SeaTitle: Tress of the Emerald Sea
Author: Brandon Sanderson
Genre: Fantasy
Format: Audio
Pages: 369
Length: 12h 27m
Narrator: Michael Kramer
Source: Owned
Reason: Recommended
Rating:
Spice: 0 Flames

My Thoughts

I’m glad I had a chance to read TRESS OF THE EMERALD SEA. It wasn’t what I was expecting, though. I enjoyed the book, but I didn’t love it. Part of the issue for me was Hoid, the narrator (not audio). I didn’t like his way of telling the story. I’m not a huge fan of 4th-wall-breaking, unless it’s in movies or TV shows, because it usually takes me out of the story and I want to be immersed.

I did like Tress and most of the other characters. I also liked the overall story of her defying the king’s order of leaving her little island in search of her lost love while traveling through dangerous spore oceans. I also liked the ending and the fact that Sanderson left it open so he can write more stories in this universe.

After doing some research, I’ve now realized that this book is part of Sanderson’s Cosmere universe. While TRESS OF THE EMERALD SEA is a standalone novel, it has connections and some shared characters to other series and books.